Building construction.



L. K. DAVIS. BUILDING CONSTRUCTION. APPLIGATTPN FILED 001214, 1911.

Patented Aug. 18, MM

L. K. DAVIS. BUILDING CONSTRUCTION.

APPLIGATIQN FILED OUT. 14, 1911.

Patented Aug. 18, 1914.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

5] vwe ntoz for? LEWIS KE'ICHUM DAVIS, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

BUILDING CONSTRUCTION.

oran.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed October 14, 1911.

Patented Aug. 18, 1914. Serial No. 654,644.

To (ZZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, LEWIS K. DAVIS, a c1t1- zen of the United States, and resident of New York, in the county and State of-New York, have invented certain new and useful. Improvements in Building Construction, of which the following is a specification.

My improvements relate to building constructions, and have particular relationto that type of building constructions which are involved in fireproof fioor structures, in

which hollow blocks are laid in series and spaced to permit the formation of concrete beams intermediatelyof the blocks and in locked connection therewith to support and connect the blocks in a rigid structure.

My present invention involves improvements over the general type of fireproof floor structures as comprised in building constructions such as that shown in my Patent No. 933,163, granted September 7, 1909, but is also adapted for effective employment in all analogous types of building construction to which my improvements are especially related.

The object of my present improvements is to provide a simple and improved bulldlng construction of the character indicated which may be more effectively and conveniently constructed, which will produce a more effective structural relationship between the concrete beams and hollow blocks, which will insure economy and facility in construction and possess advantages in point of general efficiency, and which will 'especially produce a structure having maximum strength and a completely braced status in the relative arrangement of the blocks and the concrete beams which, support and connect the same.

In the draWingsFigure 1 is a top or plan view, partly broken away and partly in section, of a portion of a floor structure em bodying my improvements. Fig. 2 is a detail vertical cross-section on the line a'ai of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a detail vertical cross-section on the line y-y of Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a detail vertical cross-section oh the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Corresponding parts in all the figures are denoted bythe same reference characters.

In the previous types of analogous floor constructions, such as that illustrated in my Patent No. 983,163, the building blocks have been laid in parallel series with the opposite beams cross each other ends of the blocks of the respective series a sufficient distance apart to permit the formation of a supporting beam of concrete or other hardening plastic or cementitious material, which extends transversely of the parallel series of blocks, the construction being such that the blocks will form matrices for the plastic to connect the blocks into a rigid structure. In such types, the concrete beams which support and connect the blocks extend in only one direction, transversely of the respective series of parallel blocks, and the narrow intervening space between the side faces of the parallel blocks has usually been filled in with a cement grout which is merely a filling and has no office as a sustaining or supporting beam.

The improved construction and arrangement constituting my present invention enables the effective and economical employment of the main concrete beams not only between the ends of the blocks but also between the side faces thereof, whereby the at right angles and extend continuously around the blocks, thus producing a homogeneous structure combinmg maximum strength and lightness and in which the floor structure is connected and supported by crossing beams extending in. opposite directions and surrounding the blocks.

Floor structures having crossing concrete supporting beams have heretofore been employed, but in such constructions it has usually been necessary to use a block of pe culiar construction to constitute the square between the right angularsupporting means, and such constructions have generally been expensive andlacking in strength, but my present improvements enable the employment of the ordinary rectangular longitudinally-extended hollow blocks such as have heretofore been used in floor constructions Y of the type shown in my patent above referred to, whereby economy in constructionand material and maximum lightness is secured. I

Referring to the drawings, 1 designates the main building blocks employed in my construction, and 2 the plurality of internal longitudinal passages or bores therein.

These blocks are approximately rectangular in cross-section and are longitudinally extended, as shown, and are adapted to be readily formed in continuous lengths 1n an.

ordinary clay die press and cut into the desired length of the block sections. The blocks are preferably formed of vitrified clay, but may be of any suitable or adapted material, and they preterably have their ex-- terior surfaces provided with a series of longitudinal ribs, as at 1:), or other suitable means,constituting a hold for engaging the plastic cr cementituus material which contacts with the block 'laces either at the sides or at the top and bottom finishing surfaces of the floor structure.

In practical construction, the blocks 1 are preferably arranged in a parallel series constituted by three blocks, as herein shown, to form the block sections of the floor structure which are surrounded by the concrete supporting beams, but it will be understood that the structural arrangement according to my present invention and improvements may be such that a larger or lesser number of blocks may be employed to constitute the block sections which are surrounded by the concrete beams, as desired. \Vhena plurality of the blocks 1 are employed in parallel series to constitute the block sections which are surrounded by the concrete beams, the narrow spaces between the opposite side faces of the blocks of the series are preferably filled with a concrete grout or cementitious filling, as at 4, in which connection it will be noted that the blocks 1 are provided at opposite sides of their base portions with longitudinal laterally-projecting ribs or extensions, as at 5. which abut when the blocks are arranged in parallel series and serve to retain the opposite faces of the adjoining blocks in separated position for a suitable distance.

T he supporting and connecting beams, of concrete or other suitable hardening plastic, of the set extending in one direction, are formed between the opposite ends 01 the blocks 1 and extend continuously with relation to the respective series of blocks, substantially as shown.in my before-mentioned previous patent, the blocks of the respective series being placed with their opposite ends a suliicient distance apart to permit the formation of the beam. The beams just referred to are designated at 6. and enter the ends of the passages or bores 3 of the blocks 1 asuitable distance, as shown at 7, whereby the blocks are supported and connected. The concrete beams, as employed in this type of building construction, are preferably approximately T-shape in cross-section, which gives enhanced strength and efiiciency, and in practical construction in the formation of the concrete beams, dams are inserted in the ends oi the passages 3 of the blocks 1 to limit the entrance of the plastic material therein. The T-shape is produced by having the dams located a greater distance in the upper passage 3 than in the lower passages.

In carrying out my present improvements, I may employ the dams as shown in my above mentioned previous patent, or dams of any suitable construction and arrangement, but I preferably employ the dams described in and covered by my copending application for patent, Serial No. 636,068, as herein shown. These dams. as at 9'. consist of a plate inscrtible and removable in slots, 9, formed in the end portionsof the blocks 1 and intersecting the passages 3 therein. said slots being on an inclined plane toward the end and bottom portion of the block, whereby the plastic beam 6 will be formed in approximately T-shape in cross-section and the dams can be withdrawn after the plastic has hardened.

The supporting and connecting beams which extend at right angles to and cross the beams 6 just above described, are formed between the side walls of the blocks 1 of the block sections which are surrounded by the concrete beams, as comprised in my present improvements. To enable the formation of these beams, designated at S. the side blocks of the respective parallel sets forming the block sections to be surrounded by the concrete beams are spaced a suitable distance apart to form an intermediate space or area corresponding to the transverse width of the beam 8. and this width is preferably substantially the same as that of the general transverse width of the other crossing beams 6. The beams 8 also preferably conform to the beams 6 in their substantially T-shape cross-sectional characteristics, but the structural formation of the beams 8 differs from that of the beams 6, for the reason that the latter must connect with the ends of the blocks 1 and enter the passages 3 therein while the former extend intermediately of the side walls of the blocks 1. The beams 8 are produced from concrete or other suitable hardening plastic, conforming to the material of the beams 6, and are supported. and molded into substantially- T-shape crosssection by the employment of small block sections, 9 9, located at opposite sides of the base portion of the beam 8 an d extending longitudinally and parallel to the adioining main block sections 1. These small bloclt sections 9, comprised in the formation of the beam structure 8, are likewise provided. with longitudinal ribs, 10. or other suitable means, upon their exterior surfaces. to constitute a plastic-hold, and they are also provided with a longitudinal passage or bore, 11.. or a plurality of such. bores if desired.

In the associate arrangement of the main blocks 1, the supplementary blocks 9-, and the concrete beams 6, as hereinbefore described and shown, the plastic of the beams 6 enters the ends of the longitudinal passages 11 of the supplementary blocks 9' a suitable distance, as shown at 12, thus supsages ll of the supplementary beam-blocks 9, and for this purpose I preferably employ the construction herein shown, in which the top wall of the block 9 is provided with transverse slots 15, intersecting the longitudinal passage 11 at a suitable distance from each end, and through the slot a piece of tile or other suitable material, as at 16,

'is inserted, to form a stop wall or dam in the passage 11, before the plastic is filled in in the formation of the concrete beamsf It will be noted that the base rib 5 of the main block 1 abuts against the base of the supplementary block 9, thus separating said blocks a suitable distance, and this space existing at each side of the base portion of the beam 8 is filled with the plastic of the beam. In the preferred construction, the sum'ilementary beam-blocks 9 have a longitudinal laterally-projecting rib or extension,- as at 17, at one side of their base portions, and said blocks are relatively set so that these ribs project toward each other at the base of the beam 8 and form substantially a closed bottom beneath the plastic of the beam.

Reinforcing members or rods, as at 18, are preferably embedded in the base por-' tion of each of the beams 8 and 6, which reinforcements cross at right angles in the same planes as the crossing beams 8 and 6.

In the employment of my improvements in fireproof floor constructions, a suitable temporary centering or support, indicated at 1.9, is provided for the ends of the blocks 1 and 9, which will bridge the gap between the adjacent ends of the blocks and serve as a support for the lastic of the beams 6, which are intermediate of the ends of the blocks, until the plastic has hardened, while the base extensions 17 of the beam-blocks 9 will serve as a support for the plastic of the beams 8, which cross the beams 6, until the plastic has hardened. The blocks are placed upon the centering or support 19 in their .relative positions as hereinhefore described,-

with the main blocksl forming the block sections Which are to be surrounded by 'con-. crete beams and with the ends oi. the blocks of said respective block sections separated a suitable distance to enable the formation of the beams 6, and with the beam-blocks 9 in.---

the space existing between the sidewalls of the end blocks of the respective block sections which isleft to enable the formation of the crossing beams 8. The dams 8' and it are then placed in position, and the con crete or other hardening plastic is filled into the beam spaces and into the end spaces or the passages in the blocks 1 and 9 to form the crossing beams which support and connect the blocks in a rigid structure. It will be understood that a hardening plastic is also spread over the top surface of the floor structure, to form the floor surface, and that a finishing plastic is spread over the bottom surface of the floor structure to rt-rm a ceiling surface.

The advantages and operation relating to 11 present improvements will be readily understood by those sltilled in the art to which my invention appertains. The "inr .roved construction provides crossing concrete beams which entirely surround. the block sections and in which the crossing beams and the blocks comprised in the strutture are interlocked, so that the whole is supported and connected in a homogeneous and rigid structure having the features of maximum strength and lightness and which can be readily and economically produced.

I do not desire to be understood as limiting myself to the detail features nor to the detail coifstruction and arrangement of structural parts as herein described and shown, as it is manifest that variations and modifications therein may be resorted to, in the adaptation of my invention to varying conditions of use, without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention and improvements. I therefore reserve the right to all such variations and modifications as properly fall within the scope of my invention and the terms of the following claims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

1. A building construction, comprising a plurality of hollow bricks having longitudinal passages and assembled in parallel series and relatively arranged with their ends spaced apart, beams constituted by a hardening plastic extending across the series of blocks transversely of the end area thereof, in the space between the same and extending into the ends of said passages at the end area. of the blocks, beams constituted by a. hardening plastic extending longitudinally of the blocks with relation to the-side area thereof in the space between the same and crossing'said first-mentioned beams, and hollow members extending longitudinally of said blocks at the base of said crossing beams and relatively arranged with their ends spaced apart and having longitudinal passages, said first-mentioned beams between 'the ends of. the blocks extending also into blocks interlock with the passages of both the main block members and the base members of said crossing beams.

2. A building construction, comprising hollow blocks having longitudinal passages and relatively arranged with their ends spaced apart, beams constituted by a hardening )lastic extending transversely of the ends ot the blocks in the space between the same and extending into said passages in the blocks, and beams constituted by a hardening plastic and extending with relation to the sides of the blocks and crossing said first-mentioned beams, said crossing beams having supporting members constituted by supplementary blocks having longitudinal passages into which the plasticof said firstmentioned beams extend and said supplementary blocks being provided with lateral ribs or extensions projecting beneath the plastic of the beam.

3. A building construction, comprising hollow blocks having longitudinal passages and relatively arranged with their ends spaced apart, beams constituted by a hardening plastic extending transversely of the ends of the blocks in the space between the same and extending into said passages in the locks, and beams constituted by o hardening plastic and extending with relation to the sides of the blocks and crossing said first-mentioned beams, said crossing beams having supporting members constituted by supplementary blocks smaller than said main blocks and arranged respectively at the sides of the base portion of the beams, said supplementary blocks being respectively provided with lateral co-acting ribs or extensions projecting to form a substantially closed bottom beneath the plastic of the beam and said supplementary blocks having longitudinal passages into which the plastic of said first-mentioned beams extends, whereby said crossing beams are approximately T-shape in cross-section.

4:. A. building construction, comprising a plurality of hollow blocks having longitudinal passages and assembled in parallel series and relatively arranged with their ends spaced apart, beams constituted by a hardening plastic extending across the series of blocks transversely of the end area thereof in the space between the same and extending into the ends of said passages at the end area of the blocks, beams constituted by a hardening plastic extending longitudinally of the blocks with relation to the side area thereof in the space between the same and crossing said first-mentioned beams, hollow members extending longitudinally of said blocks at the base of said crossing beams and relatively arranged with their ends spaced apart and having longitudinal passages. said first-mentioned beams between the ends of the blocks extending also into the ends of said passages in said base members of said crossing beams, whereby the beams extending between the ends of said blocks interlock with the passages of both the main block members and the base members of said crossing beams, and means within the passages of both the main block members and the base members of said crossing beams for limiting the entrance of the beam plastic therein.

5. A building construction, comprising a plurality of hollow blocks having upper and lower longitudinal passages and assembled in parallel series and relatively arranged with their ends spaced apart, beams constituted by a hardening plastic extending across the series of blocks transversely of the end area thereof in the space between the same and extending into the ends of said upper and lower passages at the end area of the blocks, said beam plastic extending inward a greater dlSt111" in the upper passages than in the lower passages, beams constituted by a hardening plastic extending longitudinally of the blocks withrelation to the side area thereof in the space between the same and crossing said firstmentioned beams, and hollow members having longitudinal passages and extending longitudinally of said blocks, said hollow members being lower than said main blocks and arranged respectively at oppositesides of the base of said crossing beams and with their ends spaced apart, said first-mentioned beams between the ends of the blocks extend ing also into the ends of said passages in said base members of said crossing beams, whereby the beams extending between the, ends of said blocks interlock with the passages of both the main block members and the base members of said crossing beams and the beams at both the ends and sides of the blocks are substantially T-shape in crosssection.

6. A building construction, comprising hollow blocks having longitudinal passages and assembled in parallel series and relatively arranged with their ends spaced apart, one or more of said blocks being comprised in a block section to be surrounded by supporting beams, crossing beams constituted by a hardening plastic surrounding said block sections, said beams respectively extending transversely of the end area of said block sections and longitudinally of the side area thereof, and hollow members at the base of said longitudinally-extending beams and having passages and relatively arranged with their ends spaced apart, said transversely-extending beams having the plastic entering said passages of said blocks at the ends of said block sections and also entering the passages of said hollow members of said longitudinally-extending beams, whereby said transverselyextending beams sustain the blocks of said block sections and also the base members of said longitudinallyextending beams.

7. In a building construction comprising hollow blocks assembled in parallel series and spaced apart, a beam constituted by a hardening plastic extending intermediately of said blocks in the space between the same. hollow members at the base (it said beam, and a beam constituted by a hardening plastic and extending between said blocks at right-angles to said first mentionet beam and entering said hollow members thereof, whereby said base members of said first mentioned beam are sustained by said beam which is at right angles thereto.

8. In a building construction comprising hollow blocks, a beam extending intermediately of said blocks and constituted by a ha rdening plastic, supporting members included in said beam structure and constituted by supplementary blocks ha ing passages therein and provided with lateral ribs or extensions projecting beneath the plastic ofthe beam. and. a beam constituted by a hardening plastic and extending between said main blocks at an angle to said first mentioned beam and into said passages of said supplementary blocks.

5). In a building construction comprising hollow blocks, a beam extending intermediately of said blocks and constituted by a hardening plastic, supplementary blocks forming supporting members for said beam structure and arranged in the base portion of the beam and having passages therein, and a crossing beam constituted by a bardening plastic intersecting the transverse area of said first-mentioned beam and entering the passages in said supplementary supporting blocks to sustain the same.

it). In a building construction comprising hollow blocks, a beam extending intermediately of said blocks and constituted by a hardening plastic, supporting members included in said beam structure and constitilted by supplementary blocks smaller in height than said main blocks and arranged respectively at the sides of the base portion of the beam and respectively provided with lateral co-acting ribs or extensions project ing to form a substantially closed bottom beneath the plastic of the beam, whereby said beam is approximately T-shape in cross-section, said supplementary blocks ha ing passages therein, and a beam constituted by a hardening plastic and extending between said main blocks at an angle to said firstmcntioned beam and into said passages of said sir plenientary blocks.

11. In a building construction comprising hollow blocks, a beam extending intermediately of said blocks and constituted by a hardening plastic, supplementary blocks forming supporting members for said beam structure and arranged in the base portion of the beam and having longitudinal passages therein, and a. beam constituted by a hardening plastic intersecting the transverse area of said first-mentioned beam and entering the passages in said supplementary supporting blochs to sustain the same, said supplementary supporting blocks haying'stops in their longitudinal passages for limiting the engagement therewith of the plastic of said entering beam.

12. In a building construction comprising hollow blocks, a beam extending intermediately of said blocks and constituted by a hardening plastic, supplementary hollow blocks constituting supporting members for said beam and included in said beam structure, said supplementary blocks having passages extending at the ends thereof, and plastic means engaging and interlocking with said passages at the ends of said supplementary supporting blocks for sustaining the same in position.

13. A building construction, comprising a beam constituted by a hardening plastic, hollow blocks included in said beam structure at the base thereof, said blocks having a longitudinal passage and being provided in their top wall with a slot intersecting said passa e, and a dam carried in said slot and extending across said passage to form a clo sure therein, the plastic ot the upper portion of said beam extending over said slot and dam to cover the. sa me and lock the dam in position.

In witness Wl'iereot l have signed my name in the presence of the subscribing witnesses.

LEWIS KETCHUM DAVIS.

Witnesses SIDNEY OLEARY, \Vumiair Hnomnmn. 

